Texas sees 40 percent spike in handgun permit applications

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Texans are applying for concealed handgun licenses at a rate nearly 40 percent higher than a year ago, causing a backlog in new applications and permit renewals, according to a newspaper report.

The Houston Chronicle reported in its Thursday editions that state officials can't explain the surge in applications, while handgun instructors point to factors ranging from the looming presidential election to newly strengthened privacy laws for Texas gun owners.

The state is taking a month longer than the 60 days allowed by law to process original applications, the newspaper reported. Renewals are going 80 days past the mandated 45-day period.

"We're trying really hard, but there have been delays because of the tremendous increase in applications," said Tela Mange, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman.

Last week alone, the state reported processing 1,043 original applications but receiving 1,871 requests.

Last year, state lawmakers granted privacy to the 258,000 licensed gun owners in Texas by closing records that had been public since the concealed handgun law passed in 1995.

Ross Bransford, who trains 1,000 Texans a year to qualify for a concealed handgun licenses, said he believes election-year politics are a factor in the spike of applications.

He said Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is leading the race for his party's nomination is a friend of Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy, "and that scares everybody to death."

Alice Tripp, legislative director for the Texas State Rifle Association, said she hears daily from frustrated members about the delay in getting licenses.

She said some have been put on hold for 45 minutes when calling DPS to inquire about their license.

"They are really quite alarmed and annoyed," Tripp said.

Concealed handgun licenses in Texas must be renewed every five years. Mange said the department is paying overtime and hiring temporary workers to reduce the backlog.